Arch and heel support



April 9, 1929. H. P. ROBERTS ARCH AND HEEL UPPORT Filed Sep'b. 16,. 1927n I I z l I I I z 1 1 I I l 1 I z I z I I z I I z I 1 u .z

Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY P. RGBERT, OF ROXBUE/Y, IfIASSACI-USETTS, ASSIGNOR T MASSACHUSETTSSTEEL PRODUCTS, INC., OF BOS'C'N, MASSAOHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA-CHUSETTS.

.ARCI-I AND HEEL SUPPORT.

Application filed September 16, 1827. Serial No. 219,959.

This invent-ion relates to arch supports for boots and shoes and has forits object the production of a device of this character7 one end ofwhich is provided with a cushion to yieldingly support the heel of thewearer.

This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing.

For the purpose of illustrating the inv-ention7 one preferred formthereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found togive satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understoodthat the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists canbe variously arranged and organized, and the inventionis not limited tothe precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalitiesasherein shown and described eXcept a-s required by the scope of theappended claims.

Of the drawing:

Figure 1 represents a plan of a shank support embodying the principlesof the present invention.

Figure 2 represents an inverted plan of the same. i

Figure 3 represents a longitudinal section of same on line 3, 3, on Fig.2, and i Figure 4 represents a transverse section of same on line 4, 4,on Fig. 2.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures ofthe drawinc's.

cIn the drawings 10 is a metal plate which may be of any suitable shapein plan and curved in elevation to fit any style and size boot and shoe.

riChe plate 10 is stamped out to form a bridge 11 on the under sidethereof.

nserted between the plate 10 and bridge 11 is the narrowed end 12 of thearm 13 forming a part of the i'esilient member 14.

This resilient member 14 is of spring metal and has radial arms 15 theouter ends of which bear upon the under face of the heel end of theplate 10.

Extending downwardly from the member 14 are two prongs 16 which arepressed into the sole of the boot or shoe when the shank support isinserted into said boot or shoe, as indicated in Fig. 3, in which aportion of a boot or shoe is indicated in dotted lines.

Then the prongs 16 are thus driven into the sole of the boot or shoe,the plate 10 will.

be maintained in position and cannot move endwise or laterally.

As the radial arms 15 are bent upwardly into contact with the plate 10,the heel end of said plate 10 will normally rest upon the outer ends ofsaid arms 15. said arms being stiff enough to sustain the weight of thewearer of the boot or shoe.

VVhen in use the heel' end of the support under the weight of the wearerwill give, moving up and down, and preventing any jar as the shoe heelstrikes the ground.

In fact, with this resilient member 14 installed upon the plate 10, allthe advantages are secured which can be attained by the resilient rubberheels now in general use.

VVith the resilient member 14 interposed between the inner sole of theshoe and the shank supporting plate 10, there is no wear thereof andconsequently the device may be used almost indefinitely and it isobvious the same supports may be used in several pairs of shoes ifdesired.

In other words, the supports may be easily removed from one pair ofshoes and quickly positioned in another pair when the latter pair are tobe used.

The members 14 are easily detached from the plate 10 and may be made ofvarious thicknesses so as to accommodate the supports to various weightsof the users of said supports.

Obviously the support in use by a person weighing two hundred poundswould require a member 14 of thieker material than would be required bya person weighing only one hundred pounds.

. The narrowed end 12 of the arm 13 is bent downwardly and bears uponthe inner sole of the shoe and as this arm 13 is made of spring metal itgives additional yielding support at this point.

The entire support may be constructed at low cost and asselnbled withlittle labor.

t is believed that the operation and many advantages of the inventionwill be understood readily without further description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An arch support having a rearward extension forming a heel plate anda yielding member provided with upwardly and outwardly extending arms,the outer ends of bear against the under face of said plate and one ofsaid arms being` longer than the others and securcd at its end to saidplate. i 5

2. An arch support having a rearward extension forming a heel plate andto which is secure'da yielding member proifided with up- Wardly andoutwardly extending arms, the

outer ends of which bear against the under' face of said plate, saidmember havingbetween said arms doWnwardly-extending integral prongs forinsert'in into the vsole of a Shoe- 3. An arch support having a heelplate provided with a depressed bridge pOrtion and a yielding lmemberhaving radial arms bearing at their outer ends upon the under face ofthe plate and another arni inserted between said plate and bridge.

4. An arch support having a heel plate pro- Vided with a depressedbridge portion and a yielding` member of spring metal having radial arms'bearing at their outer ends upon the under face of the plate andanother arm inserted between said plate and bridge with its forward endvbent downwardly away from 'said plate.

Signed by me at 7 46 Old S'outh Bldg., Boston, Mas` sa'chusetts,` this14th day of September, 1.927..

